Charlie Rahiri, Recovery Manager, Tauranga City Council undertook a four-hour hīkoi led by Mauao Trust with representatives of the three iwi of Tauranga Moana, the owners of Mauao, to witness the slips and the impact on the ancestral mount.
Mauao Trustee Jack Thatcher says there's a lot of mahi to be done to restore the mauri of the maunga. "I've been to Mauao three times, and still it's overwhelming, to see something that big and wonder how we are going to fix it all up,” says Jack.
Charlie says that Mauao is not just a landscape, it is an ancestor entrusted to iwi as kaitiaki, to remember its stories, to care for its wellbeing, and to protect its mana for future generations. “Seeing the scars upon it brings a profound sense of mamae (sadness), not only for the physical damage, but for what it represents," says Charlie.
"While Mauao carries deep significance for its iwi owners, it is also a place that belongs in the hearts of the entire Tauranga community. Generations have walked its tracks, found peace on its summit, and drawn strength from its presence. Its healing will take time, care, and patience but it will be a shared journey. Together, with respect for the leadership of Mauao Trust in collaboration with Tauranga City Council, and a collective commitment to its wellbeing, we can support Mauao’s recovery for the benefit of all," says Charlie.
For more information on the Mauao Recovery, visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz/mauao-landslide